Aston Villa will have to beat Manchester United if they want to sign former England star

Since the arrival of new manager Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea, former England defender Gary Cahill has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge, and the door has reportedly opened for a loan move away from the Premier League side.

The Express reported that Maurizio Sarri will allow Gary Cahill to leave on loan when the January transfer window opens, and Premier League giants Manchester United are ready to offer him a deal.

61-cap England international defender Cahill has been pushed down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge upon the arrival of former Napoli manager Sarri, making just one Premier League appearance. After six years at Chelsea, it looks set that his stay at The Bridge is set to come to an end, and a range of clubs are waiting in the wings to offer the defender a route out of Chelsea and more game time.

Boyhood club Aston Villa are just one club among a host of others keen on the 32-year-old. Manchester United, Southampton, West Ham and Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday have all been linked with moves for the defender.

Villa have been struggling at the back throughout this Championship season, after former Chelsea defender John Terry retired after failing to complete a move to a new club – ultimately becoming the Assistant Manager to Dean Smith, who came in after Steve Bruce was sacked.

Despite going up against Premier League sides to battle for Cahill’s signature, Villa can go into the battle with confidence. Cahill joined The Villains aged 15, spending a further eight years at Villa Park before moving to Bolton Wanderers in 2008. The defender could be drawn back to Villa for a swansong spell back where it all began.

A reunion with former Chelsea and England teammate John Terry could also be a pulling factor for Cahill too, as he weighs up his options with the door open to leave Stamford Bridge in January.